Updated: Sep 1
A business website costs anywhere from nothing to tens of thousands of dollars, and the deciding factor is how you build your website. A DIY website builder keeps the spend to a monthly subscription, while a freelancer or an agency turns it into a project fee that runs into the thousands. Creating a website is more accessible than ever. Wix empowers you to build a professional business website for any industry. With business website templates and integrated marketing tools, you can launch a website that fits a wide range of budgets. This article breaks down what each build route costs, from platform fees and design work to domains, hosting, email and add-ons.
Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should feel simple and exciting. Wix generates a personalized starting point with AI. You can customize every detail with intuitive drag-and-drop tools, while Wix handles the tricky parts to make building your site simple. That way, you can focus on what matters most: bringing your ideas to life. Ready to get started? Create your website today.
TL;DR: how much does a business website cost?
Business website build type | Estimated cost | Best for |
DIY builder (SaaS) | Free; Paid plans starting from $17 a month | Startups, local services and small eCommerce |
Freelance developer | $2,000–$10,000+ upfront | Custom branding and specific functionality needs |
Design agency | $15,000–$50,000+ upfront | Mid-to-large enterprises requiring strategy & complex tech |
How much does a business website cost? Here’s the breakdown
Learning how to build a business website means weighing up several costs at once. The exact cost depends on your industry, functionality requirements (like selling online or booking appointments) and growth goals. Below is a detailed breakdown of the typical expenses involved.
01. Platform and software costs
How and where you choose to build your business site can have the largest impact on the cost of building a website. Here's the full range of options.
Websites builders, like Wix are an all-in-one option because they typically include:
Domain name
Website builder prices for a business website start at free, and paid plans with Wix cost from $17 a month.
Another option is to use a Content Management System (CMS). Some CMS require external hosting and plugins for full business website functionality, which adds to the running cost. Wix Studio is a professional web design platform that ships with hosting, security and business tools already built in, so there is no separate stack to buy.
Learn more: How much does a website builder cost?
02. Labor and design costs
Using a drag and drop website builder to build a business website can help you reduce the cost without sacrificing design quality and flexibility. Wix's drag and drop editor, for example, can be used with a free website creation plan.
You can also choose from over 2000 website templates, including professionally designed business website templates.
If you choose to hire a freelancer to create your business website, you can be looking at paying anywhere from around $2,000 to start. Hourly rates can start from $50 an hour and up.
Hiring out is not automatically the better result. Gergei Erdei, a former Gucci designer and Wix user, paid for a site before rebuilding it himself.
"I'd never built a website before and I'm not a naturally digital person. My first version, built by someone I hired, was pretty bad. In fact, I hated it. Within a few months, I scrapped it and started again, this time doing it myself on Wix."
An agency building your site could cost anywhere from $15,000 up for a business website, and that usually covers strategy, design, development and copy.
03. Domain name
A custom domain is a non-negotiable when it comes to building your business online. It's what helps you stand out and build a brand more than anything else, especially in the beginning.
When it comes to your domain name cost, some domain registrars like Wix include a free domain name with a paid plan. Renewal costs typically range from $10 to $20 a year depending on the extension you use.
04. Hosting and security
If you use a website builder like Wix, web hosting and enterprise-grade website security are included with your free or paid plan. There are no extra costs.
Infrastructure is the cost line most people underestimate, as Rebecca Tomasis, Head of Organic Growth Marketing at Wix, points out.
“One thing people often overlook when choosing a website builder is the strength of the infrastructure behind it: hosting reliability, built-in security and site performance. These may not be the first things on your mind when building a website, but without a strong foundation, scaling later can quickly become complicated.”
If you use a CMS, you'll need to pay a third party to host your site. There are multiple types of hosting, each with their own specific costs.
Shared hosting: Cheap but can be slow and risky for business sites that need reliability. ($5–$20/mo).
VPS /managed hosting: Faster and more secure, its recommended for growing businesses. ($30–$100/mo).
SSL certificates: Essential for security and SEO. Often free with hosting and website builders like Wix but premium validation certificates can cost $100+/year.
05. Business email addresses
Using a custom business email instead of a generic address builds trust with your clients and customers. This can cost between $6–$15 per user/month (via Google Workspace or Microsoft 365).
06. Add-ons and integrations
Business sites often need more than just text and images, they need functionality.
eCommerce: Transaction fees (approx. 2.9% + 30¢) and inventory tools.
Booking systems: To manage appointments and staff ($20–$50/mo). Included from the Core plan up with Wix at no extra cost.
Marketing tools: Email marketing, live chat and advanced analytics ($10–$100/mo). A Wix business website comes with free in-built SEO tools, email marketing and analytics.
Did you know: the word enterprises pulls two ways, suggesting a diversified group in company naming and large-corporate software in tech, which is worth weighing before choosing .enterprises.
How much does it cost to build a business website with Wix
Wix offers a range of robust paid plans designed for business websites:
The right plan is the one you will not outgrow in a year. Rebecca Tomasis, Head of Organic Growth Marketing at Wix, puts it this way.
“The best website builder is one that can grow alongside your business, supporting your needs today while giving you room to scale as those needs evolve.”
Light plan (~$17/mo): Removes ads and connects your domain. Best for simple brochure sites or personal consulting brands.
Core plan (~$29/mo): The entry point for accepting payments. Ideal for local businesses needing basic eCommerce or booking capabilities.
Business plan (~$39/mo): Designed for growth. Offers 100 GB storage, the standard eCommerce and marketing suite, plus up to 10 site collaborators.
Business Elite (~$159/mo): For high-traffic businesses. Includes unlimited storage, the advanced marketing suite, the advanced developer platform and up to 100 site collaborators.
Editor’s note: All prices are correct as of August 2026.
How much does a business website cost FAQ
Can I build a business website for free?
You can build and publish for free on Wix, but it will have Wix branding and a generic URL. For a legitimate business, this is not recommended as it lacks professional credibility. You should budget at least for a "Light" plan and a custom domain.
Is it cheaper to hire a developer or use a website builder for a business website?
Using a website builder is significantly cheaper. A paid plan with a website builder can cost less than $100 a year, where as web developer rates are significantly higher.
